The Tempest: Act V

Contributor: Emily Love. Lesson ID: 10707

An author's characterization — how they paint a picture of the character — makes reading more fun and compelling. Be prepared to draw a picture of what a character doesn't look like but is like!

categories

Literary Studies

subject
Reading
learning style
Auditory, Visual
personality style
Lion, Beaver
Grade Level
High School (9-12)
Lesson Type
Dig Deeper

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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  • She has a big heart.
  • He's got no spine.
  • His mind's like a steel trap.

Explain what you think each of these phrases means.

Then, draw a literal representation of what these phrases would look like. Be creative and weird if you have to!

If you missed a lesson or want a refresher, go to the Related Lessons in the right-hand sidebar. You may also access The Tempest: No Fear Translation online if you do have a hard copy.

The examples of idioms above are common expressions in America.

  • Saying someone has a big heart means they are generous and kind.
  • Saying someone has no spine means they are acting cowardly.
  • Describing someone's mind as a steel trap means they never forget anything.

It is not uncommon for literal body parts to take on a symbolic meaning.

Now that you have reached the end of The Tempest, you will choose a character and complete an in-depth character study.

In the Go! section, you will create a body biography, a combination of artwork and writing (quotes from the book and your explanations of your symbols and quotations). Decorate your body biography with these things to demonstrate your understanding of a character within The Tempest.

Please note: Your body biography is not supposed to represent what your character looks like literally. Instead, it should be more like a collage of written ideas, drawings, and symbols, that work together to demonstrate how well you understand your character. In other words, be creative!

Use the guidelines below when constructing your body biography. You must have a quotation for each section, so choose strong evidence to defend your ideas about the character.

Heart: special relationships

  • Who or what is closest to the character?

Place this character or thing in the heart, and provide a quotation that demonstrates this relationship.

» Include one symbol, quotation, and sentence explanation.

Spine: important goals

  • What is this character trying to accomplish throughout the story?
  • What drives their thoughts throughout the story?

Place this goal on the spine, and provide a quotation demonstrating it.

» Include one symbol, quotation, and sentence explanation.

Strengths and Weaknesses

  • What is a strength your character possesses?
  • What personal quality needs to be improved?
  • Does the character try to improve on their weaknesses?

Find an area on the body biography to place the character's strengths and weaknesses, and provide a quotation exemplifying both.

» Include two symbols (strength and weakness), quotations, and sentence explanations.

Symbols

  • What objects could be used to symbolize or represent the character?

Find a place either within or outside the body biography to place this symbol, and provide a quotation expressing it.

» Include one symbol, quotation, and sentence explanation.

Mirror, Mirror

  • How does this character see themself?

Display this inside a mirror.

  • How is this different from how others see the character?

Display this outside the mirror. Provide a quotation for how the character sees themself and how other characters see them.

» Include two symbols (views themself, others' views of themself), quotations, and sentence explanations.

Continue to the Got It? section to see an example body biography.

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